BT charges

garrence

Thanks for the links - sorry I didn't find them in my searches before posting here.

So you set up a DD but pay in advance so the account is always in credit!

That sounds like the "everyone saves face" solution. You don't get them helping themselves to your account (though you have given them permission to do so) and they now get paid smoothly in advance.

I've already done my advance payment so I'll stay with no DD. Assuming they continue to charge the fee whilst in credit, it'll be interesting to politely run the call centre bod around in circles as they try to maintain the illusion that it's a fee for processing a payment.

BritBrat

Yes I have set up Direct debit. No I paid it when they sent the Email, they dont take the payment until about two weeks later.

I think it's direct debit rules, they have to give you notice of the payment that will be taken.

I've already done my advance payment so I'll stay with no DD. Assuming they continue to charge the fee whilst in credit,

I think they will charge you that way if you dont flag their system as paying by direct debit.

I've already done my advance payment so I'll stay with no DD. Assuming they continue to charge the fee whilst in credit, it'll be interesting to politely run the call centre bod around in circles as they try to maintain the illusion that it's a fee for processing a payment.

If your willing to take the chance I would like to know what happens.

garrence

BritBrat wrote: »

If your willing to take the chance I would like to know what happens.

For a few lots of £1.50 I'll take the gamble, but won't know 'til my July bill.

I'll get my money's worth in call centre bod time.

BritBrat

Thanks, dont forget to come back and let us know.

I think you will know in a months time, thats if you normally pay monthly the same as I do.

My bill last month was less than £12, normally it's between £30 - £70 so they have already lost quite a bit with me.

I have taken most of my calls away to another carrier as in the Heinz programe.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=3

gt94sss2

garrence wrote: »

If they don't deduct the £1.50 then I shall make damn sure to get my money worth in future months - I'll divide each bill into 30 and send them 30 cheques in an envelope along with an explanatory letter. Call me petty, but I find being charged an explicit fee for paying a bill to be rather loathsome!

I've heard of people doing this before (not with BT) and you want to be careful - as reports have indicated the banks take a very dim view of this - as they consider it 'abuse' of their accounts and have in the past, withdrawn cheque books from accounts or even closed them, if a warning letter did not result in a change to a more normal behaviour.

Regards
Sunil

BritBrat

I seen this one newsgroups today.

I've just received a bill from BT, and the line rental for BT Together
Option 1 has been charged at £1461.17 per day

Anyone any idea how they might have arrived at that figure ?

Needless to say its a rather big bill

--
Kevin

I hope he is not on direct debit.

BexTech

BritBrat wrote: »

I seen this one newsgroups today.



I hope he is not on direct debit.

Even if they were, they'd have time to cancel the DD. Or if they didn't cancel the DD, they would get refunded and all charge incurred refunded too.

gt94sss2

garrence wrote: »

My point is thus: The charge is explicitly stated as a "payment processing fee". A fee for processing a payment. If I pay several months in advance then for the second month onwards my account will be in credit and there will be no payment to process. Therefore how can BT attempt to justify a "payment processing fee" in this case?

BTs price list describes it as 'charges for non-automated payments' with "A payment processing fee applies where customers settle their BT bills using non-automated payment methods. Automated methods are defined as Direct Debit and Monthly Payment Plan" and "The payment processing fee is applied at the point of bill production if the Customer has not agreed to settle the bill by either Direct Debt or Monthly Payment Plan."

BT Business customers are going to have a similar charge from the 1 July..

Regards
Sunil

Bozzie

I've just had my bill with the £4.50 fee:mad: . How can they do this I am deducting this from my bill. I pay online so where is the processing in that? I am aware I pay more to pay quarterly, but that is my choice, I do not choose to be penalised with a fee.

I refuse to be told how to pay, I did not agree to this, I signed up to BT over 10 years ago and have signed nothing saying I accept these charges. Banks are now paying the price for these sorts of charges, what makes BT think they can now do it. I will also be looking carefully at all my utility bills.

I am the customer and they should appreciate my business.

BexTech

But you've been happily paying the extra charge for 10 years, now it's gone up by 50p and they now display the extra charge you complain!

Previously line rental was £12 per month, with £1 discount for paying by DD. That meant those not paying by DD where paying a £1 fee.

Now line rental is £11, with a £1.50 surcharge for not paying by DD. This means those not paying DD are paying a £1.50 fee.

So you have been paying a fee for 10 years, so are you angry that you've been paying this for 10 years or angry that it's gone up?

Gas and electricity have been charging for years more for those who don't pay by direct debit, many tariffs are only available to those who pay by direct debit often around 20% saving by paying by direct debit. The tariff I am on is DD online only, this since march 2005 has (and still is) the cheapest around at one point around £200 a year cheaper than elsewhere.